MAPUSA
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Monday alleged a ₹4,000 crore scam in the collection and recovery of green cess from coal handling companies operating in Goa.
He accused the State government of deliberately avoiding a discussion on the issue by pushing back his starred question in the Legislative Assembly.
Raising the matter during the session, Alemao questioned the government’s failure to recover the pending dues despite the firms allegedly continuing to earn profits without paying the mandated cess meant to mitigate environmental damage caused by coal handling operations.
“There is a massive scam in green cess recovery. Profitable companies are being let off the hook, and the State is losing thousands of crores. Why is the government protecting them?” Alemao asked.
In response, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the matter relating to green cess had been transferred to the Finance Department, and was also currently sub-judice, as it is pending before the Supreme Court.
However, Alemao countered the Chief Minister's explanation, stating that there was no stay order from the apex court that prevents the State government from initiating recovery proceedings.
“This is another hatya (cover-up). There is an attempt to misguide the House. We are demanding a special discussion on this issue,” he asserted.
